The Kite Runner: Response

I was very moved by the novel, The Kite Runner. I was enthused by how much an individual will go through to right his mistakes. Throughout the novel, the author provided plenty of detail to create a very clear picture of the atrocities that occurred in Afghanistan. Throughout the rule of different governments, the living standard started to deteriorate and eventually got to a very low level. As I was reading the novel, I was really touched by Amir’s story and his courage to go back into Afghanistan which had a war going on at the time to correct his past wrong. He showed that people can make up for their mistakes, but they have to be determined and courageous. I also liked the transformation that Amir underwent throughout the novel. He was bitter at first and did not respect Hassan, but as he grew older he realized how important Hassan was and he decide to right his wrong action of leaving Hassan to get raped.

There are many connections that I have seen between this novel and A Thousand Splendid Suns. They both take place in Afghanistan during the war. They both follow young individuals who face personal as well as social obstacles.  Both novels involve parental issues and have examples of true friendship. Another connection which relates the novels between them is that the orphanage which Laila builds is the same orphanage where Sohrab was for a while. In the Kite Runner, the orphanage is run down and in ruins due to the war and the Taliban. I feel that the ISU is going well, and that there is plenty of content and connections which will be useful when I write my essay.  

The Kite Runner: Analysis

“I envied her. Her secret was out. Spoken. Dealt with. I opened my mouth and almost told her how I’d betrayed Hassan, lied, driven him out, and destroyed a forty-year relationship between Baba and Ali. But I didn’t. I suspected there were many ways in which Soraya Taheri was a better person than me. Courage was just one of them.”(Hosseini, 174)

This quotation shows that Amir envies Soraya for being able to tell him her secret despite it being something disgraceful for an Afghan woman and her family. Amir thinks back to when he did not defend Hassan from being raped by Assef when he was younger. He thinks back to how he caused Hassan and Ali to move away because he was ashamed that he did not protect Hassan. He realizes that he does not have the courage to do what is right, but instead he keeps everything inside him and this causes him pain and struggle. This problem was faced by many characters in the book. Baba never told Amir that Hassan was in fact his half-brother because he had Hassan illegitimately. This caused Baba pain and sorrow as he could not show the same affection to Hassan as he did to Amir. This situation is also relatable to the real world. For example children tend to hide bad things from their parents because e they do not want to get in trouble, but this only causes them more trouble in the end. This quotation is able to show an internal struggle that many characters in the novel faced, and that many people have faced or will face in their life time.

“‘It isn’t about money, Amir!’ Rahim Khan roared. ‘I’m a dying man and I will not be insulted! It has never been about money with me, you know that. And why you? I think we both know why it has to be you, don’t’ we?’” (Hosseini, 233)

This quotation is a discussion between Amir and Rahim Khan a few days before Rahim Khan passes away. He has called Amir back from the United States to right his one biggest mistake. At first Amir is in shock when he learns that Hassan has been killed by the Taliban. Rahim Khan then tells Amir that he should go and save Hassan’s son from being an orphan in Afghanistan. Amir’s courage and drive to what is right is tested. At first Amir is hesitant about saving Sohrab, but Rahim Khan says what Amir was thinking: he has to be the one who save Sohrab. It is the only way that Amir can redeem himself for what he let happen so many years before. He realizes that although he was a coward when he was younger he does not have that option now. The situation where a character has to show courage even though there is an obstacle ahead is shown by Hassan when Amir and Hassan were younger, and Assef came to attack Amir, but Hassan, despite being very scared stood up for Amir and protected him. When it was Amir’s turn to repay the favour he ran away, leaving Hassan alone. This is why Amir must save Sohrab. This situation can also be related to real life when someone has done something wrong. The person has to eventually redeem themselves, or else they will have a sour feeling every time they think about the situation where they let someone down. Many people in the world can relate to this feeling which makes the novel relatable to a large audience.  

“I [Amir] hadn’t been happy and I hadn’t felt better, not at all. But I did now. My body was broken –just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later –but I felt healed. Healed at last.” (Hosseini, 303)

Amir goes to Assef who is now a Taliban general to take Sohrab and bring him to the United States. Assef refuses to let Amir take Sohrab and insists on fighting Amir. Amir realizes that Assef has held this grudge since Hassan had stood up for Amir. Amir realized he had no chance but to fight Assef. Assef had brass knuckles which he used to break 2 of Amir’s ribs, Amir’s spleen, and a bone below his eye. The quotation shows that, although Amir was thoroughly beaten, he felt healed emotionally. He was finally able to let go of the fact that he caused Hassan so much trouble, because he finally did what he should have done. He felt as though he finally righted the wrong by going to save Sohrab, and being beaten by Assef. An example in the novel of another character righting a wrong is Rahim Khan when he tells Amir that Hassan is his half-brother. He has kept the secret away from Amir for his whole life, but he had to tell him to right that wrong. Afterwards he was relieved and died peacefully. This feeling of redemption can be related to by many people. There have been many cases where people will do something very difficult for the sole reason of redeeming themselves.

 

 

The Kite Runner: Characters

Amir: Son of Baba and Sofia Akrami, half-brother of Hassan, marries Soraya

Baba: Amir’s father, Hassan’s father

Sofia Akrami: Amir’s mother, died giving birth to Amir

Rahim Khan: Baba’s good friend and business partner, visits Amir as he grows up

Hassan: Amir’s half-brother, servant and best friend, father of Sohrab, husband of Farzana

Soraya: Amir’s wife

General Iqbal Taheri: Soraya’s father, friends with Baba

Sohrab: Son of Hassan and Farzana, adopted by Amir and Soraya

Assef: Rapes Hassan, becomes Taliban general, causes Amir difficulty adopting Sohrab

The Kite Runner: Summary

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is about the travels of a boy named Amir who lives in Afghanistan and grows up with his servant, best friend and half-brother Hassan. Amir takes advantage of Hassan's loyalty and causes Hassan and his father to move away. When Amir grows up he receives a call from his father's good friend Rahim Khan who tells him he can right his wrongs. This leads Amir on a journey back to Afghanistan to try to make up for his mistakes. He ends up bringing Sohrab, Hassan's orphaned son, back to the United States with him and he raises Sohrab as his own child.

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Response

I had a really big eye-opening experience by reading this novel. Throughout the novel, the author provided plenty of detail to create a very clear picture of the atrocities that occurred in Afghanistan. Throughout the rule of different governments, women were very poorly treated. As I was reading the novel, I was really touched by what Mariam had to go through. She showed her strength and determination throughout the novel, by withstanding Rasheed’s constant attacks and insults. While reading the novel, I also saw that small things lead to happiness. Although Mariam could not bear children, she was so happy when she could help Laila raise her children. I also realized the degree of cruelty to which people can go to in order to manipulate somebody. Rasheed paid a man to come and tell Laila that Tariq had died so that she would marry him. Furthermore, I realized how lucky I am to be living in Canada where there is a democratic government.  In Canada there are a lot of freedoms that people in Afghanistan can only dream of. Women in Afghanistan must cover themselves with a burqa, whereas in Canada women can express themselves in many different ways. Overall, the novel really gets across the hardships that the people of Afghanistan had to deal with, and especially the hardships that women had to deal with.

I feel that my ISU project is progressing well. I got a little behind on my reading, but now I am caught up. I have a lot of potential connections that could be made between A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner, that will be confirmed or not after I read The Kite Runner. I really liked A Thousand Splendid Suns and I anticipate that The Kite Runner will be just as good if not better as both novels are written by the same author, Khaled Hosseini. I look forward to reading The Kite Runner and comparing the two novels.

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Analysis

“All I [Rasheed] ask in return, well, it is a simple thing. I ask that you [Laila] avoid leaving this house without my company. … Oh, I also ask that when we are out together, that you wear a burqa. For your own protection, naturally. It is best. So many lewd men in this town now. Such vile intentions, so eager to dishonor even a married woman. So. That’s all.” (Hosseini, 200)

This quotation shows that Rasheed is asserting his power of being a man over Laila. In Afghanistan, women were seen as objects rather than humans. Rasheed is forcing Laila to wear a burqa and to always be in his company when she exits the house. Before marrying Rasheed, Laila did not have to wear a burqa or be accompanied by anybody. The quotation shows the big transformation that Laila had to undergo once she married Rasheed. She was no longer a ‘free’ woman. She was at the mercy of Rasheed. He decided what she could and could not do, and she could do nothing to change that. Once she married Rasheed, Laila’s personality disappeared. She could no longer express herself under the burqa, nor could she travel by herself. This quotation serves to show that females were not considered as humans. They were objects. Laila is only one example of something that was happening all over Afghanistan.

“Attention Women: You will stay inside your homes at all times. It is not proper for women to wander aimlessly about the streets. If you go outside, you must be accompanied by a male relative. If you are caught alone on the street, you will be beaten and sent home. You will, under no circumstance, show your face. You will cover with burqa when outside. If you do not, you will be severely beaten.  Cosmetics are forbidden. Jewellery is forbidden. You will not speak unless spoken to. You will not make eye contact with men. You will not laugh in public. If you do, you will be beaten.” (Hosseini, 248)

This quotation is an announcement made by the Taliban government once it came to power in Afghanistan. The Taliban government is making women powerless. Women can no longer show their faces, laugh in public, or be on the streets unaccompanied by a male relative. Furthermore, women are being forced to stay inside unless it is necessary for them to walk on the streets. Women are at the mercy of their husbands. The guards patrolling the streets are empowered to harm women without any punishment, because according to Taliban law, women are the ones at fault. Due to the laws put in place by the Taliban government, women were isolated from the outside world. They had rare opportunities to discuss with other women, and were at the command of their husbands. Due to the laws, women were dominated by what their husbands decided or what the Talibans decided. Through the laws that were put in place by the Taliban, men could do horrid things to their wives and get away with them, because women had no power or rights to do anything about it.  

“For me, it ends here. There’s nothing more I want. Everything I’d ever wished for as a little girl you’ve already given me. You and your children have made me so very happy. It’s all right, Laila. This is all right. Don’t be sad.” (Hosseini, 319)

Mariam realizes that she must take the blame for killing Rasheed, or else everybody will have to suffer. She decides to tell the authorities of what she has done so that Laila can live an easier life, and not have to worry about the Taliban coming after her. Mariam is saddened that she has to turn herself in but she realizes that it is the only way to ensure that Laila will not be affected by the murder. The quotation also shows that Mariam and Laila have developed a strong friendship. Although, the two women did not like each other at first, over time they became good friends. Furthermore, Mariam is happy that she is able to help Laila raise her children, despite not being able to have children of her own. The quotation shows that although women had to endure hardships, they still found small things to be happy about and to cherish.  

A thousand Splendid Suns: Characters

Mariam: Daughter of Jalil Khan and “Nana”, marries Rasheed, becomes good friends with  Laila

Jalil Khan: Mariam’s father

Nana: Mariam’s mother

Mullah Faizullah: Mariam’s tutor who teaches her about the Koran

Rasheed: Mariam’s and Laila’s husband, father of Zalmai

Laila: Marries Rasheed and later Tariq, mother of Aziza and Zalmai

Tariq: Marries Laila, father of Aziza

Aziza: Daughter of Laila and Tariq, sister of Zalmai

Zalmai: Son of Laila and Rasheed, brother of Aziza

Zaman: Orphanage director, works with Tariq and Laila to renovate orphanage, allows Laila to be a teacher at the orphanage